SLAVIC GOSPEL ASSOCIATION

Immanuel’s Child 2009

April 24th, 2009

SGA Partners Help Church Workers Reach Thousands of Children During Russian Christmas

As the year 2009 began, much of the world’s attention was focused on the global economic crisis. But across the lands of Russia, some 267 evangelical churches were focused on reaching children with the Gospel. They did it through SGA-sponsored Immanuel’s Child outreaches, which were held mostly during the week of Russian Christmas January 7.

Final numbers and reports were not all in as of this writing, but at least 12,559 children in Russia and eight neighboring countries were reached through the Immanuel’s Child ministry. More than 8,500 of the children were from unbelieving families, and at least 360 children repented and placed their trust in Christ. Also as a result of Immanuel’s Child, a total of 967 children and adults began attending local Sunday schools. In addition to the reports, we are receiving some wonderful testimonies. Ten-year-old Nadezhda of Smolensk wrote, “Thank you so much for the gift. There were so many good things. The Star, which contained the words, ‘God loves you,’ I keep near my bed. I want to come to the church always, not only on holidays. I hope my mother will come with me.”

We also received some tremendous reports from the predominately Muslim Asian countries, including Kazakhstan where SGA sponsors the Almaty Bible Institute. Director Oleg Korotky and his wife, Svetlana, led an outreach to 90 children and 20 adults. According to Svetlana, many had never been to the church before.

“We provided children’s Bibles for each child, as well as fruit, toothpaste and brushes, warm socks, candy, a plush toy and gift packets. We put the Stars, which you had sent, in each present. The children were very pleased with their gifts. We made invitations for this celebration and spent two days going door to door and through the streets in the neighborhoods, inviting the children to the Christmas program. At the beginning of the celebration, we sang Christmas songs. Then Oleg held a brief Bible lesson and conversation with them about the birth of Jesus Christ. Then the children watched a puppet show about this and later we played games.

Hakim, one of our Kazakh brothers, led a separate class for the parents, along with a short worship service. He told them what our instructors teach the children, as well as how important it is for parents to take their children to Sunday school as they become familiar with the God Who loves them. Hakim shared his own testimony of how Jesus Christ helped him to start a new life after being a criminal and drug addict. This all had a powerful influence on several of the parents, and they expressed a great desire to bring their children to the Sunday school. We gave them New Testaments as gifts. Thank you all very much for your financial assistance in helping us hold this celebration. May God bless you!”

Editor’s Note: We are already in the planning stages for next year’s Immanuel’s Child ministry, and we’d like to reach more children than ever. Our goal is to reach out to 15,000 or more children with the Gospel this Christmas.  If you would like information on how your church can get involved, you can order an Immanuel’s Child kit by visiting us on line at www.immanuelschild.org or calling us toll free at 1-800-BIBLE-50.